Summer at the movies begins May 4 with 'Spider-Man 3'

by Rick Bentley

If you liked it before, Hollywood executives are banking you will love it again.

Just like last year, sequels are the theme for the summer movie releases. Does that make it a sequel sequel summer?

Follow-up efforts include “Spider-Man 3,” “Shrek the Third,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” “28 Weeks Later,” “Live Free or Die Hard,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Ocean’s 13.” All will open during the next four months.

There are even a couple of sequels—“Daddy Day Camp” and “Evan Almighty”—that don’t include the star of the original movie.

Here is a quick rundown of some of the new films, both originals and sequels, to give you an idea what will be in local theaters through the end of August. Since opening dates often change, you’ll want to check the movie listings before heading to theaters.

Spider-Man 3 (May 4): Stars Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace.The 411: The web-spinning hero faces a host of villains and personal problems.Prediction:It will be a worldwide web of excitement.

Lucky You (May 4): Stars Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Debra Messing and Robert Duvall.The 411: A poker player is more lucky at cards than in love.Prediction:Bad luck to open against “Spider-Man 3.”

Shrek the Third (May 18): Voices by Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz.The 411: The ogre couple prepare for an arrival—a replacement for the king.Prediction:Everyone will live happily ever after.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (May 25): Stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Geoffrey Rush.The 411: Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann team with Captain Barbossa in a quest to free Captain Jack Sparrow.Prediction:Yo ho ho and a bank load of money.

Waitress (May 25): Stars Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion and Cheryl Hines.The 411: A woman is trapped in a life she dreams to escape from.Prediction:Don’t look for a big tip.

Knocked Up (June 1): Stars Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd.The 411: A romantic comedy about a career woman who looks for help from the man who got her pregnant.Prediction:Heigl is money in the bank.

Surf’s Up (June 8): Voices by Shia LaBeouf, Zooey Deschanel, Jeff Bridges and Jon Heder.The 411: A computer-generated animated look at the high-octane world of competitive surfing done by penguins.Prediction:Enough with the penguins.

Ocean’s Thirteen (June 8): Stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia and Don Cheadle.The 411: The gang pulls off its most ambitious and risky casino robbery to defend one of its own.Prediction:Nothing unlucky about this film.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (June 15): Stars Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis and Julian McMahon.The 411: The Fab Four deal with the Silver Surfer, who is preparing Earth for destruction, and Dr. Doom.Prediction:It can’t be worse than the first film.

Live Free or Die Hard (June 29): Stars Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Maggie Q and Timothy Olyphant.The 411: Bruce Willis reprises his role of John McClane, a New York City cop who always finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.Prediction:It will be one of the big bangs of the summer.

License to Wed (July 4): Stars Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, John Krasinski and Christine Taylor.The 411: A couple must pass a reverend’s marriage-prep course.Prediction:It better be love at first sight.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (July 13): Stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.The 411: Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts and discovers that much of the wizard community doesn’t know the truth about his encounter with Lord Voldemort.Prediction:Pure magic.

Hairspray (July 20): Stars John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken and Amanda Bynes.The 411: Film version of the Broadway musical based on the movie.Prediction:Will set your toes tapping.

The Simpsons Movie (July 27): Voices by Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith.The 411: The animated family from Springfield make the leap to the big screen.Prediction:Will make a lot of d’oh.

No Reservations (July 27): Stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart and Abigail Breslin.The 411: A no-nonsense chef deals with a brash sous chef in this romantic drama.Prediction:Romance is a dish best served hot.

Underdog (Aug. 3): Stars Jim Belushi, Peter Dinklage, Patrick Warburton and Jason Lee.The 411: A canine superhero protects the world. The film is based on the cartoon.Prediction:There’s a need to fear, a real dog is here.

The Bourne Ultimatum (Aug. 3): Stars Matt Damon, Julia Stiles and Joan Allen.The 411: Jason Bourne is hunted by the people who made him what he is.Prediction:The third time’s a charm.

Bratz (Aug. 10): Stars Nathalia Ramos, Janel Parrish, Logan Browning and Skyler Shaye.The 411: Popular dolls make the leap to the big screen.Prediction:Living dolls are for those young at heart.

Superdad (Aug. 17): Stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera.The 411: A coming-of-age tale about two socially inept teenage boys about to graduate high school.Prediction:Every summer has a sleeper.

The Brothers Solomon (Aug. 31): Stars Will Arnett, Will Forte, Chi McBride and Kristen Wiig.The 411: Brothers try to fulfill their dying father’s wish to have a grandchild.Prediction:September is a day away.